Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-15

The Canal Systems of Mars.
sIGNoR sCHIAPARELLI HAD TO CHANGE HIS MAP FIRE.
QUENTLY TO KEEP PACE WITH THE IMPROVEMENT.
From the Boston Herald
Apaper has recently been published by Signor
Schiaparell, who is, perhaps, the most eminent of
Italian astronomers, OF the result OF observations
taken by him at Milan of the physical conditions
Of the planet Mars. These observations were taken
in the years 1877 1879 and 1ss2-periods during
which Mars approached in following its elliptical
course nearer TO our earth than it Ordinarily
comes. 1t is well known that the geography
OF this planet has been for some time past care
fully studied. Maps have been drawn giving the
seas and continents that divide the surface of
that planet, and, as distinguished astronomer
concerned, we know more Of those on the planet
Mars than we do OF those on our own world 1t
is known that Mars has an atmosphere that would
perm1, OF some form OF animal life, perhaps the
same that we find upon the earth; that the SHOWS
fall In winter and melt away in the spring. In
deed, 1t may be assumed that 1t has mountains,
valleys and broad plains covered with vegetation,
much as we are accustomed to find II in our
country districts. except that, while the natural
tint Of grass and leaf with us is green in Mars 1t
All this, however, has been known to astropo
mers for some time. What seems to be new dis
Is, or appears to BE- divided into great canals 30
miles or more in width. and extending in abSO-
lutely straight and often parallel lines from the
SeacOaSt for 600 miles or more into the interior
where they sometimes tnuerSect with other canals
running directly at right angles. This would seem
commonly displayed by nature. But what Is even
more remarkable, II we are to trust our authority
is that observation has shown that in some cases
these assumed canals seem TO be in process OF
struction.
Sig. Schiaparelli asserts that he was greatly
surprised to ind that the chart OF the surface OF
Mars, carefully prepared by him from his OBJ
servatiOns in 1879 was found defective in 1882,
because during the interval the number of his as
sumed canals had Increased. But his surprise
was changed TO establishment on finCing, during
the course OF his observations in 1882, tn Il at
short intervals what might be termed parallel
canals came, as 1t were, into existence. He could
hardly assert that he watched their formation,
though in a certain degree he was able TO do this
What conclusion he draws from this assertion ne
does not say, leaving 1t for future observ-
ers, when In few years more, chance
for further observation takes place, to
draw their own deductions But, appar-
emily, the assumption might be made pre-
missing the accuracy OF these asserted facts-that
the planet Mars is Inhabited by o race OF beings
possessed OF enormous powers having the knowl-
edge and strength needed TO perform In a short
space OF time what would be almost equivalent to
the construction OF canal that would reach from
the Atlantic Ocean TO Chicago, with q width ap-
proximately equal to half the width OF the State OF
Massachusetts, OF course these assertions will be
accepted with very great degree OF skepticism
but none the less, they will add not little the
curiosity and interest with which future obSerya-
tiOnS the nj met Mars will ha watched